A non-career Ambassadorial nominee has been warned against mentioning All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries in different parts of the country including the most recent Edo state process as part of his achievements.
A video obtained by The DEFENDER showed the nominee from Edo State, Yamah Mohammed, who appeared before Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs for screening on Wednesday reeling out how he was chairman of committee that screened candidates for primary elections in Akwa Ibom, Edo and other states at the instance of APC, during the APC leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
The screening was at the instance of 41 non-career Ambassadorial nominees of President Muhammadu Buhari whose list was transmitted via a letter to the Senate President over a week ago.
Furious by Mohammed’s mention of APC primaries as an achievement, a member of the committee, Senator Rochas Okorocha, cautioned the nominee against mentioning Edo State APC primaries as one of his achievements never again.
Okorocha threatened to petition againt Mohammed’s nomination if it was his reward as loyalist of suspended national chairman Adams Oshiomhole for taking part in APC primaries he believes must not be mentioned anywhere in the world, saying it can rubbish the image of Nigeria.
Senator Rochas Okorocha speaking during the screening of 41 non-career ambassadors by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday July 15, 2020.
Senator Okorocha, who represents Imo West in the Nigerian Senate, alleged that Yamah Mohammed’s nomination must not be a reward for his participation in any APC primary exercise he tagged as one of the worst exercise ever conducted by the governing party.
“This is not the best place to compensate you because, per adventure you go to other country and behave the same manner, that will tarnish the image of Nigeria.
“So, I advise you, don’t mention that as your achievement, that you conducted primaries for APC, anywhere. Because most of you did that and the then chairman (Oshiomhole) just sent you people to commit all the atrocities you committed everywhere.
Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, speaking to journalists after the screening of of 41 non-career ambassadors by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, on Wednesday July 15, 2020.
“And so, don’t remind people that you ever conducted primaries for APC. And if that was basis for your nomination, then I will make a petition against this nomination,” Okorocha spoke tough.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Senator Adamu Bulkachuwa, told the nominee after Okorocha’s comment to “take a bow and go” and then emerged to clear why he did so later while addressing journalists over the screening.
He said there was nothing wrong in rewarding party loyalist with ambassadorial nomination.
“Naturally, these are non-career ambassadors. In other words we call them political ambassadors. And then if the party decided to compensate them, what is wrong? In fact that is what we expect.
“And if we find out that anyone of them has never been a politician, has never participated and has never done anything, then we will wonder why did Mr. President nominate him? So the answers he gave are in order,” Senator Bulkachuwa cleared the way for Mohammed..
In the build-up to the 2019 general election, the primary poll of the APC was characterised with violence as a result of shoddy manner in which process was conducted across the country.
